“Don’t let anything distract you from doing the best you can.” Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Reggie has experienced homelessness since the age of 17. He has also experienced the grip of drugs and alcohol. When he was in active addiction, his family refused to support him, not wanting to enable him. This only contributed to his homelessness. Now, almost two years sober and living in a recovery house, they are coming back into his life. “I wanted to be sober because I wanted to be a responsible father and grandfather.” Reggie has two daughters and five grandchildren. When Reggie was little, his mom was a single mom and had to work a lot to support her kids. Because she was always working, Reggie had to learn to cook so that he could feed himself and his siblings. This is where his culinary passion began. “It makes me proud and makes me feel like I’ve done something right when someone likes what I’ve cooked.” After graduation, Reggie wants to continue improving his relationships with his family, keep a steady job in the hospitality industry, and work on opening a food truck. He says, “You can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it.”